Ukraine prepares defence leadership overhaul amid military command restructuring

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Posted Aug 21, 2026, 10:30 AM UTC · In the digest of 2026-08-21-1030
Ukraine prepares defence leadership overhaul amid military command restructuring
Photo: Seznam Zprávy

Ukraine's parliament will vote on Yevhen Khmara as defence minister while new army chief Mykhailo Drapatyj carries out a wide-ranging overhaul of the military command.

Ukraine's parliament is scheduled to vote on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nomination of former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as the country's new defence minister, alongside the formal confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The leadership transition follows the dismissal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who has publicly warned of systemic governance problems and wartime corruption while calling for national elections.

Concurrently, newly appointed armed forces commander-in-chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has initiated a major structural reorganisation across the military hierarchy. Drapatyj's operational reforms focus on dismantling internal patronage networks inherited from prior command and promoting proven frontline commanders to key strategic posts.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy

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